Train aisle width

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Apr 26th, 2009 | 11:43 AM

swern

Original Poster

Joined: Mar 2009

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Train aisle width

We will be travelling by train from Rome to various parts of Italy in May and recall that the last time we were in Europe our suitcase would not fit down the aisle. Does anyone know how wide the train aisles are on both Eurostar and local trains? Thanks, Swern

Apr 26th, 2009 | 11:49 AM

janisj

Joined: Oct 2005

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The luggage normally belongs in the storage area at the end of the car so you shouldn't have to schlepp it up and down the aisles. But if you had that much trouble, I'd definitely downsize. Train travel w/ huge bags is pretty difficult.

Apr 26th, 2009 | 12:47 PM

J62

Joined: Mar 2005

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Trains haven't gotten any wider, so if it didn't fit last time I'm willing to bet it won't fit this time.

Apr 26th, 2009 | 12:48 PM

zeppole

Joined: Jun 2008

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Last time I took a Eurostar (November), the aisles seemed even narrower than that. Everybody was struggling.

Apr 26th, 2009 | 01:07 PM

LoveItaly

Joined: Sep 2004

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I have only had a 21 inch suitcase on the trains in Italy swern, I didn't have a problem with the aisle width. But if your luggage is bigger you probably will have a problem. For train travel the smaller the suitcase the easier the trip.

Apr 26th, 2009 | 01:12 PM

lennyba

Joined: Jun 2006

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No trouble getting 20 and 21" rollers down the aisle of the Eurostar last month. Larger than that would need to go in the storage area at the end of the car.

Apr 26th, 2009 | 05:18 PM

nytraveler

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 57,886

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If you have a large suitcase you will probably need to turn it lengthwise to get it down the aisle. (Make sure any large bag can be dragged in either direction). And you may also have trouble finding a place to put it by your seat - unless you're going first or the train is quite empty.

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Apr 26th, 2009 | 07:17 PM

greg

Joined: Jan 2003

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My 22inch could barely navigate between aisle in the 2nd class. It got stuck when passengers carrying large suitcases kept their luggage on the floor and stuck out into the corridor. I often had to schlep my luggage over these blockages.

Apr 27th, 2009 | 09:17 AM

RufusTFirefly

Joined: Jan 2003

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But the train cars aren't all that long. So it's not a life-changing experience to get your suitcase to your seat, if that's what you want to do.

Apr 27th, 2009 | 09:49 AM

#10

kerouac

Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 24,032

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Why would you want your suitcase at your seat? If it's big, it won't go in the overhead rack anyway.

If I have a big bag, I just put it at whichever end of the car my seat is facing, so that I can see what is happening (nothing has ever happened).

Apr 27th, 2009 | 11:14 AM

#11

suze

Joined: Jan 2003

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Big bags go on the luggage rack at the end of the car; there's no room for something that large at your seat anyways.

Apr 27th, 2009 | 11:56 AM

#12

kerouac

Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 24,032

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Of course, in 1st class at least, there is also a big luggage rack in the middle of the car, but it just makes it more difficult to get on and off the train if you use it.